Material properties

Material properties:

Batches: As mosaics are produced in batches, the color of the mosaic stones from different orders is never completely identical and homogeneous. We therefore recommend that you always order a slightly larger quantity to avoid having to accept color deviations when reordering. We cannot guarantee that the reordered product will be delivered from the same batch.

Mosaic properties: The color of the mosaic stones is never completely uniform and homogeneous. The arrangement of the colors depends on the batch and the firing.

Chipping at corners and edges (so-called edge breakage), fingernail-wide grooves on the surface and irregularities in the shape, size and surface of the individual mosaic stones or tiles are part of the natural properties of the product and do not constitute a defect up to 5%. Depending on the mosaic stone or tile format, there are between 100 and 1000 mosaic stones / tiles on an area of 1 square meter. It is absolutely impossible to deliver every stone / tile free of defects.

Each mat / tile must be checked for defects or foreign bodies from the front and back before laying. Defective stones / tiles are removed / replaced from the mat. The mat / tile is laid and a "good" stone / tile from the offcut is inserted in the free space. Up to 5% breakage, scratches or defective stones can occur per square meter and cannot be declared as a defect. The material is always new and of the best quality, but we do not open every box and check every single tile before dispatch.

This is the tiler's job. And even after the material has been checked by the tiler, replaced if defective, optimally laid and grouted, a tile may move again due to stresses and hairline cracks, or it may simply have been overlooked during laying. This is not a hidden defect, but a natural characteristic of mosaics.
Every tile is unique. No two stones are 100% alike, which has an effect on the joint pattern and the individual distances between the stones. Any resulting irregularities in the joint pattern are therefore normal and intentional. In the case of transparent mosaics and possible mesh bonding on the back, a possible shimmering through of the mesh cannot be ruled out due to the characteristics of different tiles.

For repeat orders or additional deliveries, the same tonality, mesh size and tile size from the initial order cannot be guaranteed. The manufacturer's tolerance refers to different tonality, there may be changes in tools in different batches. Therefore, please order a quantity with offcuts and replacements when placing your first order.


Mosaic properties for back-side mesh bonding:

In the case of mosaics with mesh backing, the mesh may show through due to the characteristics of different stones. This depends on the mosaic. If it is transparent, it has a light or dark color. You can test this beforehand to see whether it is noticeable or not. This has nothing to do with the manufacturer or the quality, but is part and parcel of a mosaic with a mesh backing.

Mosaic properties of transparent crystal mosaics: These series are hand-cut and hand-laid mosaics with slightly rounded edges on the top and top sides of the mosaic. The hand-cut mosaics are not 100% straight and therefore have tolerances. Before laying, this results in a slightly shifted joint appearance when viewed from above, which is then greatly reduced when grouting. After grouting, the grout covers the above-mentioned rounded edges. The stone then has a smaller visible surface. This joint pattern is one of the natural properties of the mosaic.

A slight green shimmer of the stones in glass mosaic can also be normal depending on the color, batch and incidence of light and is also part of the natural properties of the product.

General material properties, mosaic tile size, packaging unit:

The color of the mosaic stones is never completely uniform and homogeneous. The arrangement of the colors depends on the batch and the firing. Possible chipping at corners and edges (so-called edge breakage), fingernail-wide grooves on the surface
as well as irregularities (unevenness) of the individual stones in shape, size and surface are part of the natural properties of the product and do not constitute a defect.

Depending on the mosaic stone format, there are between 100 and 1000 mosaic stones on an area of 1 square meter. It is absolutely impossible to deliver every tile free of defects. Each sheet must be checked for defective stones or foreign objects from the front and back before laying. Defective stones are removed from the sheet. The arch is laid and a new stone from the offcut is inserted in the free space.

Up to 5% breakage, scratches or defective stones are normal per mosaic sheet and cannot be declared as a defect. Even after the material has been laid and grouted, a tile may break again due to tension or it may simply have been overlooked during laying. This is not a hidden defect, but a natural characteristic of the mosaic.

Repeat orders:
For repeat orders or additional deliveries, the same tonality as the initial order cannot be guaranteed. The manufacturer's tolerance refers to different tonalities in different batches. Therefore, please order an excess quantity with the first order if necessary.


Pool mosaic / swimming pool mosaic

For swimming pool m osaics, it is important that the mosaic or glass mosaic is paper-bonded on the front.

Explanation:
Since underwater use in particular places increased demands on the swimming pool mosaic and the pool mosaic adhesive, it is always advisable to use a mosaic with paper glued to the front. This is simply for reasons of adhesion.

Swimming pool m osaic with mesh bonding on the back has up to 50 percent less adhesion than a swimming pool mosaic with paper bonding on the front. This is due to the fact that in the case of back-side mesh bonding (as the name suggests), a mesh is applied to the back of the mosaic tiles, and the glass mosaic tiles are often additionally bonded to the mesh with water-soluble adhesive. This procedure seals the tiles from the back with adhesive in such a way that 100% adhesion with the tile adhesive is impossible. There is evidence of a loss of adhesion of over 50 percent in some cases and the tiles are likely to fall off after one to two years.

With paper bonding, the paper is attached to the front of the swimming pool mosaic tiles or pool mosaic tiles . The original method is to glue paper to the front of the swimming pool mosaic. The paper is like a large stamp. After the swimming pool mosaic has been laid, the sheet is wetted and the paper can be peeled off.

Read more about this under our link: Glass mosaic

Another disadvantage of mesh bonding is that with translucent glass mosaic the mesh can be seen through, this cannot happen with paper bonding on the front side.

It is necessary that the substrate is smooth, even and white: a substrate in a different color would impair the aesthetics of the end result, because glass mosaic is translucent to a certain extent, depending on the type and color.
Another disadvantage of mesh bonding is that the mesh can be seen through translucent glass mosaic, which cannot happen with paper bonding on the front.

It is essential that the substrate is smooth, even and white: a substrate in a different color would detract from the aesthetics of the end result, as glass mosaic is translucent to a certain extent, depending on the type and color.